Nevada County picayune., 1887-10-13

there was an interval of an hour and half, that was essentially my own. But that morning dis. patch had come for one of the di. rectors, who lived three miles to the south of us, and it so happen. ed, the agent. who was busy. re- quested me to take it. offering the use of his fast mare, which stood in harness under the she'd an animal remarkable for it's speed and endurance. as I ascertained thereafter.
 l had been to the directors $ house on one or two similar Occa. slons, and neither tue agent nor myself deemed the time necessary to go and come any consideration when an hour and half was at my disposal. Besides. had such a course been necessary, he could have taken the keys and acted for me. But there was no thought of that.
 drove leisurely over, enjoying the ride very. much, for the mare, Fanny" was in excellent spirits and the air was clear and bracing.
 had delivered the dispatch, re- ceived a brief word of thanks, and was already turning hemeward, when the director came himself toward the paling, calling out to me by name.
 1 rcined up.
 "There is some mistake here, Jennings" he said, with some ex- citement, waving the dispatch. This should not have been sent to me, but to our agent" On re- tiection: "He knows the contents, l suppose"
 On reelection. 1 couldn't say and so stated.
 "Ihen go back to your post at once, and give 1t to him. X spe, clal train of excursionistS for HampStead Beach will pass at 9:3O. Look out for it."
 He turned leisurely and saun- tered up the walk toward the house, while with a word started the mare into trot.
 A special train at half-past nine!
 l drew a tight rein with my right hand, and took my yatch from my pocket with my trembling left.
 Nine twenty.two! Three miles of straight road-less, perhaps, d quarter of d mIle of de:our to the station, when l should reach the track-and the main line open to me westward for the passage out of the mail! Three miles, and eight minutes in which to accom- plish it!
 In my youth l had known some- thing about horses, and that knowledge did not fail me now. l drew out the long whip-seldOm used, as l have noticed-and touched the mare quietly on the flank.
 How can l describe that ride!
 have been where charger met charger in the whirl and dust of battle, and men and horses have gone down together, but in that there was fellOwship-association In this-but no words can titly describe the fierce emotions of that solitary ride against time, where hundreds of innocent lives. all uncOn scious of the peril toward which they were speeding, hung trembling in the balance.
 recall now the tempest which swayed my shrinking soul, as, out wardly calm and rigidly erect, with every muscle strong as steel, l held the mare firmly up to her work, and by voice and touch, electrified the noble animal with almost human consciousness of the necessities and peril of the oc- casion.
 Trees, houses, fences, gardens- sometimes men, staring in wild eyed astonishment-ilew past in one unbroken flight. My hat was on, my hair and beard streaming in the wind, my lips compressed, save when emitting low cries Ot encouragement to the noble mare; and thus l reached a low rise of ground commanding view of the line for mile or more on either hand.
 Tn tO this moment from the time | had drawn tight rein and glanced at my watch, this point had been the objective goal for which l was